Pitting and coring machine



Dec. 16, .1930. A. 1 DUNCAN FITTING AND CORING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Zin/affol- Dec. 16, 1930.` A. 1 DUNCAN 1,785,010

FITTING AND CORING MACHINE Filed May t.' 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zin/enfer @LM-MW Patented Dec.. 16, 1930 -11 i new einer;

ARTHUR L.y DUNCAN, OF PIEDMON T, CALIFORNIApASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PACEFIC IviC'HElFIERY COMPANY, 0F SAN FRANl'JlSCTO, GALFOE-NA, A COBPORA- TION F CALIFORNA Y :Pir'rnve ann cosine MACHINE Appueaticn flied May s, 192e. serial No. 276,154.

.lhe present invention relatesto improved pitting and c'oring apparatus and comprises improvements over the mechanisms disclosed in my Acri-pending application, Serial No. 191,334` liled May 14, 1927, and of Which the present application is a continuation in part.

lt has been observed from actual operation of the machine disclosed in said co-pending application that certain improvements Were desirable particularly to insure alignment of parts, to reduce friction, and to simplify and increase the ruggedness, reliability and durability of the mechanisms in operation.

lt is accordingly one of the objects of the invention to provide improved pitting 'mechanisms in which parts are effectively guided and the various operating members effectively retained. in position.

Another'object of my present invention is to improve the driving and registering mechanisms to secure 'morer accurate-positioning and alignment of the parts; and to minimize friction.' l

A further object of the presentrinvention l; is the provision of improved means for preventing sticking or stopping of the mechanism should fruit stems orl other matter accumulate between the shank of the pitting knives and the knife holders Whilethe knifeA holders are in an open position.

` A still further object of the present invention is the improvement of mechanism to facilitate the taking apart and cleansing of different parts thereof. Y

Still another object of the invention is the provisionv of novel adjusting devices to permit rapid and `convenient adjustment of pitting mechanisms for operation on different sizes of fruit-s Further objects of the invention are such as may be attained by a utilization of the various combinations, subcombinations, and principles, herein after set forth and as defined by the terms of the appended claims. full understanding of the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in ivhichy Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional v iew througha preferred improved pitting or coring machine embodying my invention.

For a Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through my improved jaivholder adjusting means. y

Figure 3 is aV part sectional `View and part elevational vievv disclosing particularly the pivoted guiding means for the sections of the oval box cam utilized in my invention. y

Figure 4 is a transverse-se ctional view taken on line 1 -'4 of Figure 1, particularly dis l closing my improved means for setting the main drive shaft into rotation and the means for arresting such rotation.

Figure -5`is a-more or less diagrammatic vievv'shovving the'relation of the side guide bars to the opposing knife holders in the preferred form of invention. i I

Figure '6 is a top plan View of the head end ofthe drive shaft utilized in the form 'of invention disclosed with the gauge plates therein,` and V Y Figure 7 is a sectional vievv taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by reference charactersin Which like characters designate like parts, 1 designates a base casting, to which bearing bracket Q is se# cured by cap screws 3.k `Secured to lcastingl` is casingv section 4 in which Worm 5 isV disposed. Worm 5 is rigidly secured to and driven by drive shaft 6 which issupported in a 'suitable bearing as shown in rsaidcopending application of supporting bracket A7 secured to base 1 by cap screws 8. lPower is transmitted to ,drive Ashaft 6 from a suitable pulley as shown in said co-pending application. Meshing With and driven by Worm gear 5 isan assembly consisting.;l of a Worm ring gear 9 secured to a hardened sleeve 11 provided With a bushing 12. This assembly is journaled forrotation onsleeve 13 con-- stituting a part of the main cam of themachine to be later described.` Formed in a face of sleeve 11 is a series of spaced clutch holes 14 adapted to receive a projection 15 of slid`` ing` clutch member 16 for a purpose later described. Clutch member 16 is mounted in a suitable bore formed in clutch disk 17 which in turn is keyed to and drivessleeve 13. ClutchV member 16, is normally yieldingl-y urged towards sleeve 11 by means disclosed 'e in said co-pending application, and further means as disclosed in said co-pending application are provided for normally holding projection 15 from engagement with holes Sleeve 13 is journaled for rotation on hollow main shaft 18 and mounted en shaft 18 contiguous to clutch disk 17 is a unitary assembly comprising a sleeve 19, ratchet disk 21, and registering disk 22, sleeve 19 being secured to shaft 18 by a key 23 coextensive therewith. Ratchet disk 21 is provided with diametrically opposite ratchet teeth 24 (Figure 4) which are adapted to be engaged by the end 25 of a pawl 26 which is pivotally supported on a. pin 27. Spring 28 coiled about pins 29 and 31 engages pawl 26 forcing it about its pivot so that it is normally yieldingly held against the periphery of ratchet 21. Pins 27, 29 and 31 are rigidly secured to clutch disk 17 and accordingly pawl 26 which is pivotally supported on pin 27 is carried by clutch disk 17. Pawl 26 is provided with an extension 32 which is adapted to engage the upper end of throw-out latch 33 which is secured on an extension of rear bearing bracket 34 by means of securing studs 35. Oppositely positioned adjusting stop screws 36 threaded in extensions 37 of bearing bracket 34 are provided for adjusting latch 33 to vary the point in the cycle of operation at which extension 32 of pawl 26 will engage the end of latch 33.

Bearing bracket- 34 is suitably secured to base casting 1 and is provided at the upper end thereof with a rear bearing 38 which in turn is provided with a bushing 39 in which sleeve 19 is rotatable. Secured to rear bearing 38 by suitable securing devices 41 is a plate 42 to whichis pivotally secured by means of pin 43 the inner end of a registering finger 44 provided with a shouldered projection 45 adapted to enter one of a pair of diametrically opposed shouldered notches 46 in the periphery of registering disk 22. Plate 42 is provided with a projection 47 in which is secured an adjusting screw 48 provided with a socket 49 for receiving' one end of a helical spring 51 whose opposite end rests in a socket 52 in registering finger 44 in a manner normally urging nger 44 towards and in engagement with the periphery of registering disk 22. Extending through a projection of plate 42 is a shock absorbing adjusting screw 50.

Secured to clutch disk 17 is a kick-out pin 53 (Figure 4) adapted upon rotation of disk 17 to engage an edge of registering finger 44 to throw projection 45 out of engagement with a notch 46 just prior to engagement of end 25 of pawl 26 with one of the ratchet teeth 24.

Main shaft 18 has formed integrally with the inner end thereof a head 54 slotted or bifurcated to form a central guide slot 55 which inwardly of the end of head 54 is widened providing a substantially square slot 56. A pair of slidable gauge plates 57 (Figures 1, and 5 to 7) are disposed in slidable engagement with the guide slot 55, the plates being secured by suitable rivets or screws 58 to a member 59 having a cylindrical body 61 that is slidably mounted in an enlarged bore 62 of hollow main shaft 18. Body 61 has a forward projection 63 to which plates 57 are secured. Member 59 is bored axially as shown at 64 for a purpose presently to be described and has secured thereto a tubular operating rod 65, the bore of which registers with the bore 64 of member 59. Slidably supported in bifurcation 55 of head 54 and guided for reciprocation between gauge plates 57 are knife holders 66, each of which at the outer end thereof is provided with a bore 67 (Figures 1 and 5) which in cross-section is elongated or of elliptical formation and mounted in each bore 67 is a roller supporting pin 68 which is held in bore 67 by a pin 69 extending through knife holder 66 and transversely of pin 68 at the rear end thereof. By mounting pins 68 in elliptical shaped bores and pinning them at one end the pins are prevented from longitudinal displacenient in the bores but are permitted a limited rocking movement in bores 67 about pins 69. Each pin 68 extends outwardly from its respective knife holder 66 and has rotatably supported thereon a roller 71. Rollers 71 are engaged in a groove or guide 72 of a two-part oval-shape box cam member 73 (Figure 3) comprising an upper member 74 and a lower member 75 which are duplicates and when put together provide an endless oval shaped cam guide groove through which rollers 71 move and thus determine the path of bodily movement of the knife holders 66. Each cam member 74 or 75 is provided with a pair of spaced apertured ears 76 between which an apertured ear 77 of a sliding jaw holder 78 is disposed and pivotally secured thereto by a pin 79. J aw holders 78 are thus pivotally secured to cam members 74 and 75 and are recessed to receive a pair of opposing jaws 81 (Figure 1). Jaws 81, as fully disclosed in said cO-pending application, are of a single width to enter an annular groove or channel formed in the fruit to be pitted. Jaw holders 78 except f-or the pivoted ears 79 above referred to are substantially formed those disclosed in said co-pending application,l the outer surfaces being finished and arranged to slide in castings 82 and 83 secured to base 1 of the machine.

Each of the cam members 7 4 and 75 is provided on opposite sides thereof with channel shaped guides 84 (Figure 3) for receiving guide bars 85 which at their lower ends are pivotally secured at 86 to lug members 87 extending outwardly from casting 82 and which attheir upperendsjare detachably seu cured'V to brackets 88 evtending` youtwardly from casting `83, each detachableconnection comprising a pin 89 extending vounvvardly from bracket 88 andprovided `with a. notch 91. Each bar 85 is provided with an "aperture to seat pin 89 and provided With a suitable latch member 92 springpressed into engage ment with notch 91 and a zehn-ob 93 for-retracting latch 92 from engagement with notch V91. By this construction it Will'be seen that when it is desired to remove :cam` 72 for cleaning purposes or to substitute cams with` pathsy of different `shape lthis may be rapidly accomplished by `freeing the upper ends of guides 85 and swinging themdovvn- Ward to clear the Way for the removal of the cam members 74v and l75.I lVith the guides swung downward the cam membersmay be readily removed and replaced, andv when the cam members are replacedV guides 85 maybe latched back inthe position shown. l A i Jaw holders 7 8 are'bored in vertical alignment as indicated at 94 (Figure. 1)' to slidably receive sleeves9`5, each of which is provided `with a `shoulda-96 providing a stop to limit the movement 'of sleeve 95 in one direction.Vv Sleeve95 is eXter-raily 'threaded to receive a nut 96 and coilspring 97 surrounds' each sleeve land abuts nut196 and ashoulder formed by recess in jaw holder 7321's shown lat 98. `lt will' be apparent that the tension Vof spring 97 may be adjusted by manipulation-ofnut l -Y l'ilachV sleeve 95 bored axially asvshotvn at l99 for slidably receiving rod 101 the' `inner end of which is threadedly engagedin a block 102Tfrom the oppositefsides `of'wvhich"eX- tend pair of pins 103-to Wh-ichvarepivotally secured the outer ends of a pair of links 104 Whose inner rends receive 'therebetween and havesecured thereto bypin 10F.` `one endof `a-lever 106. They outer-.ends offrods 4101 project outwardly of nuts 96 intofbifur'ca'` tions 107 (Figures 1 and 2) fof members 10S Whose Ainner ends are threadedly engaged with the outer ends of sleeve 95 and bear against nuts 96. Secured to and ,extending transversely of bifurcations 107 are pins 4109 which extend through heads 111 of rods1`017 which heads are provided "with eccentric apertures`1'12in which are disposed eccentrics 113 of levers 114 Which are pivotal-ly supported by pins 109. hilembers V108 one side thereof are provided with hores 5115 eX- tendingfromthe outer faces thereof to .the bifurcations 107. The 'outer ends of bores 115 are threaded as at 116 for detachably receiving la threaded plug 117 (Figure 2) Which engages one end of coil sprine's 118, the opposite'ends of springs 11.8 nesting in cup shaped members119 which present a'substantially semispherical surface'- 121 adapted cui to engagea series of 'locating notches in levers l 114. Bythis construction the levers 114 are 1 intoy substantial contact `vvi-t-h frictionalvly` held inl adjustedwposition, 'but maybel readily shifted to different positions to adjust the Aoutward travel limit `and relative positionsfof the jaws fordifferent sizes offruits.- f '.4'

Javi holders .78 are caused'ltovrecipro'cate towards and fromeach` otherlby levers 106 pivcted to frame castings 82 andf83 by pins V122 intermediate their ends, and which as before stated are pivotally connected to rods 101l at their forward ends, the other ends being connected by meanso-f links 123 to the long farms 1 24 of a pairofv hell crank levers 125. `The `shortarms 126 of bell crank levers 125 aregconnected'together bylink 127 ofthe construction specifically disclosed in said copending application to the opposite ends of Whicharnjis 126 are ypivotally secured-"by means of pinsu128. Link 127 is provided Ywith an outwardly projecting stud 1292011 which is mounted the cam roller 131 Which rides in a'cam groove 132 in main cam -133 of the construction disclosed in saidco-pendapplicationv andwhich is 'providedpwith the sleeve like extension 13', above 'referred to, `and an oppositely 'extending sleevelile eX- tension'- 134.4.` Y j Main shaft 18 is successively reduced from head thereof ltowards the threaded eX- tremitjv thereof'providing shoulders 135 and l136. The sleeve like extension 134 bears against 'shoulderv13'5l andY sleeve 95 bears against shoulder136 in proximity to endof sleeve13-; *Sleeve519 entends through bush-A 39 and terminates substantially flush Withthe outerface of rear bearing 38 anda nut engages the threaded extremity138 of shaft .18 Whichforces-the 'sleeves 19 and I the' respective shoulders 136` and 135. L-Knife holders 66 each havefrigidlyqsecuredfto onev face'thereof by means of rivets 139 (Figure) a: sidenguide bar 141. The guide bar of cach4 knife holder'is adapted to slidably engage theoppesite 'knife holder upon inward-land outward movement of the knife holders, the'engaging faces of knife vholders 66 vand guide bars 141 being finished to present smoothengagingsurfaces. Guide bars 1'41slidably Vmove in the enlarged portion 56 of head 54 and slots 142 are provided in bars '141 through which rrange plates 57 mayetend. vFormed in knife holders 66 are suitable rectangular recesses adapted to receive rectangular shanlrs 143 of the curved pitting knives 144 shaped to conform to the contour of the core desired toberemoved and pro-vided vwith lbeveled cutting edges. Shanks V143 of knives 144 are removably re-v tained inffthe rectangular recesses by set screws 145.-- Each `knife `holder 66 is bored from the inner Vedge thereof to the bore 67 in .vhichpin'GS is positioned,` the inner ends of bores being tapped toreceive removable threaded plugs 146 (Figure l) 'between Which and pins 68 coil springs 147 are positioned in said bores by means of which a yielding connection is provided between knife holders 66 and cam 73.. The pivotal support of pins 68, and the action of springs 147 permits operation of the knives and holders without injurious wedging due to accumulation of matter between the shanks of the knives and holders in operation. One of the jaw holders 78 is provided with an adjustable limiting screw 148 to limit the movement of the jaws 81 toward each other.

Operating rod for gauge plates 57 passes axially through the hollow shaft 18 and is provided with an internally threaded guiding sleeve 149 adjustably threaded thereon by means of which the position of gauge plates 57 when in operation may be readily adjusted in accordance with the size and varieties of fruit being handled. Sleeve 149 has a guiding extension 151 slidably mountedV in an enlarged bore 152 of shaft 18 and is provided with a groove 158 to receive a fork of an operating member 154 which is provided with a bore 155 that receives the end of an operating rod 156. Rod 156 is secured in head 157 of a slidable member 158 having a sleeve member 159 at right angles to head 157 and slidably mounted in a bushing 161 secured in bearing 162 of bearing bracket 34. Extending into sleeve 159 and having one end thereof threadedly secured to member 158 is a rod 163 whose opposite end is provided with a bifurcated head 164 which is pivotally secured to long arm 124 of lower bell crank lever 125 by means of pin 165.

Means are provided forclearing the'machine of pits or cores which comprises a pit kick-out rod 166 extending through a longitudinal bore in rod 65 to the outer end of which is pivotally secured by pin 167 one end of link 168 the opposite end of which is pivoted to one end of a link 169. The other end of link 169 in turn is pivoted to a lug 171 projecting outwardly from bearing bracket 34. Pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of link 169 by means of pin 172 is one end of rod 17 3 which extends into a bore 174 of an elongated boss integral with bearing bracket 34, and has secured to the opposite end thereof a plunger 176 having a rounded end 177 which is yieldingly held in engagement with cam 178 secured to clutch dislr 17' by means of a coil spring 179 disposed in bore 174 with one end in engagement with plunger 17 6 the opposite end heilig in engagement with a plug 181 threaded into the end of boss 175. Fluid means for removing fruit halves and particles of pulp as disclosed in said co-pending application or copending application S. N. 228,852 may if desired be employed in the machine forming the subject matter of this application.

The fruit to be cored is brought into engagement with thejaws and pitting knives in the manner set forth in said co-pending application and which comprises guiding the fruit in position between the jaws and pitting knives by means that form a circumferential recess in a peach in the plane of the suture of the pit in which the pitting knives and jaws are received and which means comprises an upper bracket 182 supported from casting 83 and a lower bracket 183 secured to base casting 1 by cap screws 184. For pitting high grade fruit the upper structure is preferably composed of two blades 185 separated slightly from each other but secured together to move as a unit. Blades 185 are provided with cutting edges 186 and 187 preferably at right angles to each other, the edges of which are inclined outwardly away from the space between the blades, causing the pulp of the fruit to be slightly wedged apart as the circumferential groove is formed. Blades 185 are mounted to swing vertically on parallel links 188 and 189 piv otally secured at opposite ends thereof to bracket 182 and blades 185 respectively. Yieldable adjustment means 191 as disclosed in said co-pending application are provided for limiting the position of links 188 and 189, and consequently of blades 185 for varying sized pits. The lower blade structure preferably comprises two spaced blades 192 adapted for swinging on a horizontal line by means of parallel links 198 and 194 pivoted at their opposite ends to bracket 183 and blades 192 respectively. A coil spring 195 suit-ably maintains the lower blade'structure in position.

Gouges 196 and 197 are arranged between the blades 185 and 192 to transversely cut and remove the narrow strip of the peach that enters between the blades of each set. A tip remover 198 is provided adjacent the path of the peach between blades 185 and 192 for trimming olf the tips of peaches as they are fed between blades 185 and 192.

peratz'on In operation on peaches, the pitting knives 144 and jaws 81 are normally open lying within the planes of the sides of jaws 81 and gauges 57 are in forward position. A peach to be pitted is inserted in the channel between the blades 185 and 192 with the tip towards the operator and with the plane of the suture of the pit of the peach indicated by a crease on the outside of the fruit, substantially in the vertical plane of the blade. The operator then forces the peach downwardly between the blades removing the tip and cutting channels in the peach in the plane of the suture of the pit. The operator moves the peach to the end of the vertical branch of the path between blades 185 and 192 and then moves it bodily in a horizontal direction between the blades until the stem end of the pit lun Veo

engages the ends of gauge plates 57. At this point in the operation a circumferential channel recess or groove has been formed around the peach in the plane of the suture ofthe pit, the pulp halves adhering to the pit are slightly wedged apart, and the vpeach is in the position for the cutting out of the pit with the suture of the pit between open knives 144 and the inner recessed edges of jaws 81 in which knives 144 are nested, in the channel in the fruit pulp. j l

lVorm ring geary 9 is constantly driven through worm 5 and when a peach has been positioned as above described, the operator manipulates the clutch control lever as disclosed injsaid co-pe'nding application to Cause Y the projection 15 to enter one ofthe holes 14 in sleeve 11 thereby imparting rotation to drive clutch disk 17` and consequently-g to 20, sleeve 13 to which drive clutch disk 17 is secured. Rotation will not be imparted to mainv drive shaft 18 until kick out pin 53 actuates registering finger 44 and end 25 of pawl 26 carried by the disk 17 engages one of the ratchet teeth 24. During the periodbetween the setting into rotation of drive clutch disk 17 and drive ratchet 21, main cam 133 vwillbe rotated through sleeve`13 shifting connect? ing link 127 and the bell cranklevers 125V and the parts connected thereto to the position of parts shown' in Figure 1. 4As the toggles formed by long arms 124 of the bell crank levers 125 andlinks 123 straighten,

jaw holders 78 are brought together and due jaws 81 and knives 144 firmly about the suture of the pit which has been properly lo-V cated by gauge plates 57 During movement' of jaws 81 and knives 144 inwardly rod the fruit pit within the compass of knives 144.`

After the completion of the above operation, kick out pin 53 carried by drive clutch disk17 engages an edge of registering finger 44 lforcing projection 45 out of recess 46 and immediately thereafter end 25 of pawl 26 engages a ratchet tooth 24 of ratchet 21 imparting rotation to. ratchet 21 which with registering disk 22 and sleeve 19 are keyed to drive shaft 13 and thereby driving main shaft 18. The rotation of shaft 18 causes rotation vof knife. holders 66 and knives 144 through half of a revolution. 'Rollers 71 Vmoving in camrgrooves 72 determine the' shape of' the central core includingthe whole pit -to bei` cut from the fruit. Grooves 72 defininga substantially oval pathV cause 'knives 144 to Vverse section.

125 of pawl 26 out of engagement with ratchet,

to the-action of the springs 97 yieldingly close 163 connected to long arm 124 of lower bell crank lever through head 157, rod 156, fork action between the cam members 74 and 75 of cooperating with notches V4 6 of the Vdisk 22 'knives 144 nested'in thegrecesses of jaws 81 j invention.

follow a path corresponding approximately to the shape of the pit sides to eliminate the waste of desirable pulp portions that occurs when the knives follow aI true circular path in pitting fruit with pits not circular in` trans`l :After the completion of` a half revolution of shaft 18, extension 32 of pawl 26 engages the 4end of throwout latch 33 Athrowing end 5 tooth 24, thus serving to disconnect clutch 7 disk 17 from ratchet 21. `At the same time projection 45 of registering finger-44 engages Y avnotch 46, on registering disk 22, serving to positively center and hold shaft 18 in proper position for the next operation withv knives 144 again nested in the recesses of jaws 81. Continued rotation of sleeve 13 actuates Cani 133 to break the toggle consisting of arms- 123 vand 124 to separate the knife holders-78 together with aws 81 and knives 144.v As the parts separate caml17 8 secured to'drive clutch 17 engages the rounded end of plunger 176 which through rod 173, links 168 and 169, imparts a reciprocating motion to the pit kick out rod 166 which ejects the pit from between the knives 144 and the fruit pulp halves.

Foreach complete pitting operation,` drive clutch disk 17 makes 'onecomplete revolution at the end of which projection 15 of pin 16 is withdrawn from engagement with aperture 14lby the means disclosed in s aid co-pending application,at which time the parts will come to rest with knives 144 nested in recesses of. jaws 81 and the parts open to receive the next fruit to be cored. If during the operation when knife-holders 66 are in their open po-Y sition fruit stems or other particles should accumulate between the Shanks of knives 144`V and holders 66, the pivotal mountings` of pins 68 and the action of springs 147 mountedin bores in ,holders 66 permits a yieldable oval box cam` member 73 and holders 66 whereby the action of knives 144 is cushioned, thus avoiding danger of stopping of the maf chine as well as injury toV parts. i

lt will be seen that shoulder 45 of latch V44 positively locates the parts with thepitting and between the planes of the side surfaces of the jaws 81 in proper -position to` enter the kerf formed in the fruit by the cutting and guiding knives and 192, and` that the j shoulder 45 is positively disengaged `from.,` the notch 46 before theknif'e holders aref rotated to drive the pitting ,knives 144 through the flesh of the fruit. This positive aligning action and therelated drive structures` are important features of thepresent yIn operation of the deviceit maybecorne f. desirablev eithertoclean the split cam, memberg73 or to substitutetherefor Va camjconlao.

struction of more or less oval shape to handle fruit having fatter or more rounded pits as the case may be. rThe construction disclosed permits rapid removal of the cam `structure by simply depressing knobs 93 (Figure 3) releasing the upper ends of guides 85 from the pins 89, throwing the guides downward about pins 86, and then removing pins 79 to effect disconnection of the cam members from the jaw holders 78. When the cam members are to be replaced they are inserted in the position shown in Figure 3, pins 79 are replaced, and the guide members 85 are swung upward into the side guide channels of the cam members and are latched into position.

To adjust the relative position of jaws 81 and knives 144 and their holders 66 for handling different sizes of fruits, it is simply necessary to swing the levers 114 in the proper direction, rotating eccentrics 113 which will be held in anyone of a plurality of positions by the frictional engagement of latches 121 with the corresponding notches in the side surface of the eccentrics and screw 148 is adjusted correspondingly. By these adjustments the relative position of the jaw holders 78, jaws 81 and the knives 144 carried thereby is conveniently and rapidly changed, without, however, varying the compression of the springs 97 which are adjusted by nuts 96. Accordingly it will be seen that the relative operating positions of the jaws, knives, and knife holders may be rapidly varied to accommodate different sizes of fruit pits without varying the compression of the springs 97 which predetermine the maximum pressure with which the knives, jaws, and jaw holders are forced together by the toggle actions.

The arrangement of split cam 73 guides the pitting knife holders and pitting knives 144 in their course through the fruit, the cam parts being guided in their movement independently of the guiding arrangement of the knife holders 66 by plates 141 in the head of shaft 54. The guide arrangements together with the pivotal yielding connection between the cam member 7 3 and knife holders 66 overcomes the wedging effect which otherwise would take place at the horizontal position of knives 144 and knife holders 66 when in contact with the narrow part of the oval cam path, in event stems or other foreign mattei' vbecome embedded between the shanks of the pitting knives and holders while they are in perpendicular position.

Further improvements effected by the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent therefrom that an improved fruit pitting or coring machine is provided in which the various operating parts have been simplified in construction .and the mechanisms improved in general whereby friction between the different operating parts is reduced, and providing a machine well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended. lVhile the invention has been described somewhat in detail it should be understood that it is not limited to such details and may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the scope thereof is to be determined from the following claims.

Having described preferred embodiments only of the invention, what is desired to be secured by Let-ters Patent and claimed as new is 1. In a fruit pitting machine; means for separating the flesh of a fruit to be pitted substantially to the depth of a core to be removed; pitting means adapted to enter between the separated flesh; means for rotating said pitting means; and yieldable means for guiding said pitting means in a predetermined path through the flesh of the fruit to be pitted.

2. In combination, means for forming a kerf in the flesh of the fruit to be pitted substantially to the depth of a central core to be removed; pitting means; means for positively holding said pitting means in alignment with the kerf formed by said kerf forming means in the fruit to be pitted; means for first disengaging said holding means and thereafter rotating said pitting means through the flesh of the fruit to cut a core therefrom; and means for causing said holding means to positively hold said pitting means in aligned position to enter the kerf of a succeeding fruit to be pitted at the end of a coring operation.

3. In combination a pair of curved knives; means for rotating said knives; a cam member having separable parts guiding said knives in their rotation stationary removable.

guide members; means for reciprocating said cam parts on said guide members, and pivotal connections between said cam parts and said reciprocating means.

4. The combination as set fo-rth in claim 3, in which said guide members are secured in position with a quick detachable connection.

5. A fruit coring machine comprising a rotatable shaft; coring means driven by said shaft; members yieldably connected to said shaft for slida-ble movement upon rotation thereof; fruit holding means carried by said slidable members; and movable guides pivotally connected to said members for guiding said fruit coring means in the coring operation.

6. A fruit coring machine, comprising a rotatable shaft provided with an enlarged head; said head provided with a stepped slot defining a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion inward of said narrow portion; knife holders movably supported in said slot; a knife holder guide secured to nnu) fifi each holder, said knife holder' guides slidablyI 7. A fruit coring machine comprising a.

rotatable shaft; a bifurcated enlarged head onv one end of said shaft; knife holders movably supported in` said bifurcation; guide members movably connected'wvith said rotatable shaft; each knife holder provided with' an oval shaped bore adjacent the outer end thereof; a pin mounted in eaclr bore; said pins pivotally securedat one end thereofto said holders for limited lateral movement in said bores; resilient means in said holders:

bearing against said pins; andantifriction means carried by said pins for engagement With said guide members. Y

8. A fruit coring machine vcomprising a frame; a rotatable shaft supported by said frame; said shaft provided withv an enlarged' slotted head; a pair of jaw members vertically slidable in said frame; a channeled guide member pivotally'supported by eachl jaivmember, said channels jointly dehningl an oval shaped guide; a pair of knife holders slidablymounted in said slot 'and each provided vvith* a roller engaged in said channelV guide; coring knives carried by said holders; a pair of levers pivotally secured intermediate their ends to said frame; toggle connections between one of the ends of said levers and said rotatable shaft for intermittently operating said levers and manually adjustable means between said jaW members and the other ends of said levers for bodily shifting said javiT members with respect to said ends.

9. rlfhe construction defined in claim 8 inv which said guide members are each provided With a pair of laterally spacedV channel members separate from said first named channels; a pair of vertically disposed laterallyspaced guide rods pivotally connected at the inner ends thereof to said frame and detachably connected at the outer ends thereof to said frame; said guide rods normally disposed in said channel members for guiding said guide members.

l0. The construction defined in claim 8 in Which said manually adjustable means comprises a sleeve disposed in an aperture in said. jaw holder; a shoulder on the inner endA of said sleeve; a nut threaded on the outer end Vof said sleeve; a compression spring surrounding said sleeve to normally hold sait shouleer in engagement with the inner face of said jaw holder; a rod extending through said sleeve and connected to said lever; a bifurcated member detachably supported on Y the'outer end of said Vsleeve into the bifurcation of which the outer end of said rod norsaid bifurcationv for adjustable jengagementav` with rsaidirod; and yleldable means in said bifurcated member for frictionallyi engaging said cam member.

ll. In a fruit coring machine, a frame; a shaft journaled for rotation `in said frame; said shaft provided With a pair of longitudinally spaced shoulders; a lcam member provided with an elongated sleeve in engagement with said shaft and abutting one of said shoulders oneend thereof; a combined. ratchet and registering disk mounted on said shaft outward ofrsaidsleeve and abmbting the otherofY said shoulders and the oppositev end of said sleeve; saidcombined ratchet and registering disk secured to said shaft 4bya lev'- a vbushinf.r in said framethroufrh which l, 7 .ha n p the outer end of :said shaft extends; a nut threaded on the outerend of said shaft for.

' engagement with said frame .to aravf said sleeve and said ratchet and registering disk into en gagement.with said shonlders,` coring;` knives connected to said shaft, and jaws actu-` ated by said cam. i

i2. A fruit coring machine `comprising a hollow shaft; coring knives.lnfiovably,sup-` i ed by one end of said shaft; agcoring ve adjusting cam member provided With ngated sleeve loosely mounted on said a driving gear loosely mounted on said and saidclntch dislr adapted to, beV peri-` odically thrown into operative position ratchet and registering meanswxed to said shaft outward `of said s leevegjmeans carried by *saidV clutch dislrforreleasing said register-A by said clutch disl for imparting rotation toY saidratchet; and operatingconnections betvveen said 'cam member and said coring knives. Y i 'l 13. rlhe construction defined inolaim 12in Which sai dratchetand said registeringfmeans are rigidly connected; said ratchet provided with diametricallyopposed teeth ;said registering means pro vide-dQWith ,diametrically opposed recesses; a paivl pivotally mounted on said clutch disk and yieldably held in en-` gagement with saidratchet; a ingerlpivotally mounted one end and Vprovided .at the `opposite endvvith a projection for Aen-L gagementwith one o f said recesses;.fra pro? jection carriedby said Vclntch disk to engagev said linger uponV rotation of4 said dis'lrto greyleasesaid projection from. said recess immel` diately preceding engagement of Ysaid paivlwith oneof` teeth;- end alatchfmeniber adaptedto engagesaid pavvl 13o-release the same from Vsaid tooth immediately preceding entrance of said projection into the other of said recesses j @2jr [y '14.Tlie construction'deinedgin claim 121 in iyhicha cani member surrounds saikdQclutchdislrfor engagement Withfa yiel davbllyy I.

a clutch diskliaedjon saidsleeve -adjacent said gear; driving means between said.V

ing means for rotation other `meanslcarried Y ed reciprocating plunger; a pit kick-out rod mounted in said hollow shaft; and flexible ,connections between said plunger and said kick-out rod. i 15. A fruit coring machine comprising a j frame; a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said frame; coring knives movably carried by one end of said shaft; a. cam provided with a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft; cam driving means mounted on said sleeve; shaft driving means fixed on said shaft adjacent said cam driving means; movable guides for said coring knives; jaw holders pivotally connected to said guides; jaws carried by said jaw holders; toggle opera-ting connections between said cam and said jaw holders; a hollow gauge rod slidably disposed in said hollow sha-ft; a tubular member threadedly enga-ged with the outer end of said rod; said tubular member provided with a circumferential channel; a fork engaged in said channel; a vertically disposed rod connected at one end thereof to said fork and at the opposite end thereof to a longitudinally reciprocating member; and a second rod connect-ing said reciprocating member to one of said toggle operating connections.

16. The construction set forth in claim 15 in which a pit kick-out rod is disposed in said hollow rod; a cam surrounding said cam driving` means; a yieldably mounted plunger in engagement with said cam; and flexible connections between said plunger and said rod.

17. In a fruit coring machine; a rotatable shaft; adjustable coring means driven by said shaft; means independent of said shaft for adjusting the movement of said coring means; and means for setting said shaft into rotation and arresting the rotation thereof positively at the end of a half revolution thereof.

18. In a peach pitting machine, knife holders, knives carried by said holders; means to cause said holders to approach and recede from each other; means to rotate said holders; and means to shift said holders from the circular course during their rotation, said last named means including a pair of cams mounted for movement toward and from each other: and guides to determine such movement, said guides being mounted so as to be readily removable from engagement with said cam whereby said cam may be readily removed from said machine.

19. In a peach pitting machine comprising a pair of jaws movable toward and from each other; pitting knives disposed in matching recesses in said jaws; means to rotate said pitting knives from said recesses and to return them thereto after cutting the pit from the peach, and mechanism for operating said jaws and knives, said mechanism including levers to which said jaws are attached by a connection that readily permits the shifting of the aws with respect to said levers and a spring to yieldingly urge said jaws toward each other, said spring being mounted independently of the connection, whereby said jaws are connected to said lever.

20. A peach pitting machine; comprising a pair of jaws mounted to move toward and from each other in a circumferential recess formed in the flesh of the peach, and means to actuate said jaws, said means comprising a lever for each aw, each lever being provided to the frame of the machine between its ends and connected to a jaw adjacent one end, the opposite end of each lever being connected to a pair of links, whose points of attachment are normally in alignment when the jaws are in opposite position; one of said links being provided with an operating arm whereby the toggles formed by said links may be broken when the jaws are separated, and means to operate said arms.

21. A fruit coring machine including a rotatable shaft; a pair of fruit coring knives carried by one end of said shaft and movable toward and from each other; removable guiding means for said coring knives; and yieldable connections between said coring knives and said guiding means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR L. DUNCAN. 

